Well, I'm not sure if his currently tough time is just temporary, but at the moment, definitely there are some problems.
I remember when I became his fan. When I was watching his game, I thought I hadn't seen any player having such a decent talent like he has and I was so sure that nobody wouldn't be able to beat him if he just shows his talent. But the time wore on, getting to know about him, I realise again and again how much important mentality is after everytime he lost.
I'd like to discuss what makes him so down and what would be the main problem, with you Gasquet fans. We all know this season is such a letdown these days.
And plus what could bring him back? How do you feel about it? Let's talk.

I never got to watch the DC this weekend, however from all that I have read, it seemed to be another 'Damned if I do'... 'Damned if I don't' situation for Richard.I really feel for the guy, however I also salute PHM for taking on the challenge. A challenge, that in the past, Richard was happy to rise too. This time round, however, Richard was not up to the challenge. Richard has had a pretty poor season to date, some injuries, some bad losses, so why should he have been burdened with carrying the hopes of the French nation once again? I understand PHM was not too happy about the call for duty. Tsonga injured. Gilles Simon? (who in my opinion is also pretty talented), but not called on as a reserve this time.

Without a doubt, Richard's problem is too much pressure and expectation by all. Mentally, Richard knows his limitations, and therefore will not perform unless he knows he is able to achieve 100%. Clearly he does not want to disappoint his nation, fans, teammates, DC Captain, coach etc. So what now?

I get really mad that the press and even some fans build him up to be this "Wunderkind", and then, when he doesn't perform to their liking or expectation, he gets labelled 'overrated', 'underperformer', 'underachiever', etc etc.

In my opinion, Richard still needs to mature so much more. So, currently there are tennis players that are achieving great things at his age. I just wonder if the Djokovic's and Nadal's of the world will be able to maintain their winning ways at such a young age. Quite frankly, I don't really care. I know as a Gasquet fan, I can still look forward to some great tennis in the future.

Richard, when you are ready, in your own time ...... in the meantime, you still have my support and I am sure the support of many others.

I quite like Gasquet as a player. Over the weekend I have said some harsh things about him because I didn't understand why he decided to only the 5th rubber against blake and not against andy. After reading his interview, I understood some but still didn't completely comprehend his logic. Ultimately, he didn't have enough confidence against Roddick. Which was okay, since Davis Cup is a team sport and whoever feels the best at that moment should go out.

Here’s what I don’t understand: from his interview, he thinks that PHM had a chance against Roddick and that he could played the decisive 5th rubber against Blake, whom beat him convincingly in IW. Huh???? So Richie thinks he in worse shape than PHM but better than Llodra or Clement? He was willing to play a best-of-5 match, if it was necessary, against blake but not andy even though he beat andy and lost to blake the last times they met? And from PHM’s interview, it seemed like that Gasquet didn’t even talked to him about which match to play. How could he assumed that PHM was ready for Roddick? Gasquet told some journalists that he was going to play the 5th rubber only, before he even talked with his teammate? What? And neither Forget, Richie nor PHM were saying stuff consistent with one another and so this is even harder to comprehend.

What I really want to know now is if PHM decided to not play, like if he said he was still demoralized by the loss to blake and didn’t want to go out, would Richie had step up? Because essentially, that was what PHM did for him. Richie didn’t feel confident against Roddick and so PHM went to the “slaughterhouse” for him. That’s the quality I wanted to see from Gasquet this weekend. I wanted him to say: “I am not confident right now against Roddick but if the team needs me, I am available for either of the matches.”

I didn’t want to see him having some attitude problems with Forget. I didn’t want to see him going behind his teammate’s back and pick and choose which match he wants to play. For him to go to the next level is for him to see an opponent which he doesn’t think he has a chance to win and say “I am going to go out there and just play my game. I am not going to carry a losing mentality.”

Anyhow, I blab way to much. What happened this weekend was a bit of a disappointment for me to see. I still like him as a player and still want to witness his success.

I have been thinking about this as well and was about to make the same thread. I'm worried for him. When I first became a fan of Richard, I thought he was so talented and that he had a great future ahead of him. Fast forward three years later and he is moving backwards. No improvement at all. I think most of the problem comes from his attitude and weak mentality. He doesn't have confidence in himself when he plays against quality players. He even loses to players like Tursunov and Andreev! (Not that they are bad players but for top 10 player he should have no problem beating them) Also he is too stubborn and is not willing to fix parts of his game like not staying behind the baseline and not hitting moonball fhs. His coach and his parents have coddled him all his life and it's ruining him. He needs tough love.

I have been thinking about this as well and was about to make the same thread. I'm worried for him. When I first became a fan of Richard, I thought he was so talented and that he had a great future ahead of him. Fast forward three years later and he is moving backwards. No improvement at all. I think most of the problem comes from his attitude and weak mentality. He doesn't have confidence in himself when he plays against quality players. He even loses to players like Tursunov and Andreev! (Not that they are bad players but for top 10 player he should have no problem beating them) Also he is too stubborn and is not willing to fix parts of his game like not staying behind the baseline and not hitting moonball fhs. His coach and his parents have coddled him all his life and it's ruining him. He needs tough love.

Precisely. I got the impression his parents never beat or pummeled him when he was a kid.

For him to go to the next level is for him to see an opponent which he doesn’t think he has a chance to win and say “I am going to go out there and just play my game. I am not going to carry a losing mentality.”

Yep, I agree. He seems to have decided he has already lost before he has even stepped on court. Huge lack of maturity. Surely one day he has to rise above this.

I think the reason of all this stuff is that Richard is unhappy in his life. According to his interview he gave to L'equipe, he feels sad that people do not like him.
He can become depressive if this situation continues. Maybe, it would be better for him to stop playing tennis as a professionnal.
You cannot compare him to other players as he was a gifted child. The media know him since he is 9 years old. I have read some books about gifted child and they are very often very fragile and different.
I do not know what is the best for him but i prefer him to stop playing tennis than to continue and suffer all his carrier like this.

I think the reason of all this stuff is that Richard is unhappy in his life. According to his interview he gave to L'equipe, he feels sad that people do not like him.
He can become depressive if this situation continues. Maybe, it would be better for him to stop playing tennis as a professionnal.
You cannot compare him to other players as he was a gifted child. The media know him since he is 9 years old. I have read some books about gifted child and they are very often very fragile and different.
I do not know what is the best for him but i prefer him to stop playing tennis than to continue and suffer all his carrier like this.

I didn't know he was unhappy with his life. What makes him think people do not like him? (People criticize him including spectators and posters but Nadal and Djokovic gets that too). I think he needs a therapist instead of just quitting tennis.

I think the reason of all this stuff is that Richard is unhappy in his life. According to his interview he gave to L'equipe, he feels sad that people do not like him.
He can become depressive if this situation continues. Maybe, it would be better for him to stop playing tennis as a professionnal.
You cannot compare him to other players as he was a gifted child. The media know him since he is 9 years old. I have read some books about gifted child and they are very often very fragile and different.
I do not know what is the best for him but i prefer him to stop playing tennis than to continue and suffer all his carrier like this.

I don't think that's the case. Even if he does indeed think that people don't like him, it is up to him to change that. Fans like when their favorite players fight in every match they play. Who didn't like his effort against Roddick last year in Wimbledon? Or how about against Hewitt at 06 US Open? NO one would complain about it.... but people also see how disappointing he was at Roland Garros last year... or how he did not take a court against Young at US Open last year. It is normal that they react negatively to this things, because Richard is top 10 and should pull through these tough moments. At the very least, he should show his heart that he wants to win those matches no matter the surface and his condition.

I don't think that's the case. Even if he does indeed think that people don't like him, it is up to him to change that. Fans like when their favorite players fight in every match they play. Who didn't like his effort against Roddick last year in Wimbledon? Or how about against Hewitt at 06 US Open? NO one would complain about it.... but people also see how disappointing he was at Roland Garros last year... or how he did not take a court against Young at US Open last year. It is normal that they react negatively to this things, because Richard is top 10 and should pull through these tough moments. At the very least, he should show his heart that he wants to win those matches no matter the surface and his condition.

Agree Vlad. Richard should take those criticisms and improve, showing the haters that they are wrong about him. Not just get mad and complain that people ''hate'' him.